Paul G. Hiebert

Trinity’s Center for World Christianity and Global Theology is named in honor of Dr. Paul Gordon Hiebert (1932-2007).

Pictured right

Professor Hiebert, who taught at several institutions of higher education prior to joining the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, exemplified intellectual curiosity and creativity with courage, humility, grace and faithfulness to God’s gospel. In his work as a missionary, an anthropologist, a missiologist, a teacher and a scholar, he was recognized around the world for his brilliant intellect, his breadth of knowledge and his magnificent academic contributions.

From the 1980’s onward, Hiebert envisioned “a post-colonial era in missions...without arrogance and paternalism.” For him, in this “era of post-colonial missions,” missionaries could function as mediators of global theologizing because they are “inbetweeners, standing between different worlds.” Paul G. Hiebert personified “inbetweenness” in all aspects of his life, especially in his academic teaching, research and writing. The Paul G. Hiebert Center for World Christianity and Global Theology builds on his legacy.

Tite Tiénou, Director

"Paul was a courageous missionary statesman of consummate
diplomatic skill. He was also a learned academic."

Robert Eric Frykenberg
Professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA)